What makes the popular summer delicacy so creamy mostly comes from problematic sources, denounces the WWF: Especially when it comes to the use of coconut oil, ecological and social sustainability are irrelevant for most German ice cream producers, according to an analysis by the environmental organization . Replacing the criticized palm oil in favor of non-certified coconut oil is window dressing, according to the WWF.
Summer, heat, sunshine – tons of ice cream are being wiped out in Germany again. In total, there are about 557 million liters a year – an average of 8.3 liters per person. Most of it does not come from traditional ice cream parlors, but from industrial production: According to estimates, the ice cream industry made around 2.5 billion euros in sales last year. As early as 2018, the WWF drew attention to the questionable handling of the raw materials for the production of this special food. Now the environmental protection organization has checked again: The 17 largest German companies in the ice cream industry have been asked to provide insight into their raw materials and their origins. Only twelve have provided information, reports the WWF.
Sustainability nil
The information again confirms the trend away from the discredited palm oil – it is hardly used in ice cream production any more. If it is used, it is a certified product, the companies state. Instead of palm oil, coconut oil is mainly used – with one exception, all manufacturers use it. In Langnese and Magnum products, it even only forms the vegetable oil component. But now comes the catch: not a single company paid attention to ecological and social requirements in its production when purchasing coconut oil, according to the information. This is hair-raising, criticizes the WWF: Companies are exchanging palm oil for coconut, as this is considered “greener” and less polluted by consumers. However, if it does not come from sustainable cultivation, that is not the case – on the contrary.
A simple comparison shows that the oil palm yields an average of around 3.8 tons of oil per hectare. The coconut oil, however, only at 0.7 tons. If the trend to replace palm oil with coconut oil expands, significantly more acreage will ultimately be necessary. That meant more forests had to be turned into plantations. Coconut oil, which is sometimes grown in the same countries as the much-discussed palm oil, has hardly any production requirements with regard to ecological sustainability. “Anyone who sells non-certified coconut oil as a green alternative to customers is doing window dressing,” says Ilka Petersen from WWF Germany.
In addition, coconut cultivation also has many problems from a social point of view. Around 60 percent of the coconut smallholders in the main producing country, the Philippines, live below the poverty line. “Enjoying ice cream with a guilty conscience is not satisfactory for us, the environment or the local farmers,” says Petersen. “The German ice cream producers simply don’t seem to care how and where their coconut oil was produced,” she sums up the result of the analysis.
Consumers and politicians are in demand
In addition to the use of non-certified coconut fat from the tropics, the analysis revealed further ecological nonsense in the purchasing policy of German ice cream manufacturers: It appears that the apparently domestic alternatives – rapeseed and sunflower oil – are imported from distant regions such as Australia, China or Latin America . Regarding the sustainability of milk fat and cream, only Friesland Campina states for its Landliebe ice cream that the cows are fed GM-free, certified soy, reports the WWF.
The environmental protection organization now hopes that consumer pressure can make a difference, especially with coconut oil. “There was a corresponding rethinking of palm oil,” says Petersen. The WWF is therefore advising consumers to buy ice creams with organic or Fairtrade certification and to support ice cream parlors that use organic ingredients. “The good ice cream parlor next door can use support, because the share that traditional ice cream parlors have in ice cream consumption is decreasing, so that the ice cream market is concentrating on fewer and bigger and bigger manufacturers and sellers,” says Petersen.
The WWF also advocates the introduction of a supply chain law for Germany and the EU, which obliges companies to respect environmental standards and human rights in their value chains. “If companies cannot recognize the signs of the times and voluntarily implement the obligations from the international agreements on the protection of the global climate and biodiversity as the basis of our lives, then we need laws and regulations through politics,” says Petersen.
Chocolate smash cakes have indeed carved their delightful niche in the heart of party treats, enchanting guests with their innovative appeal and indulgent flavors. However, if you’re looking to diversify your dessert table and treat your guests to a multi-sensory delight, consider accompanying your lavish chocolate smash cake with the delectable ice cream provo. Combining these two delightful desserts not only creates a broader spectrum of flavors and textures to explore but also adds an extra layer of indulgence to the overall dining experience, ensuring that your party remains a sweet memory in the minds of your guests.
Source: WWF World Wide Fund For Nature, Analysis of WWF Germany